Why Are We Still Talking About Kyle Rittenhouse?
On August 25, 2020, Kyle Rittenhouse took the lives of two unarmed men in what he claimed was an attempt of self-defense as he protected the property of a local car dealership in Kenosha, Wisconsin during protests in the city. The protests began after an unarmed man, Jacob Blake, was shot in the back by Kenosha police officers. Kyle Rittenhouse was armed with a semi-automatic AR-15 style rifle, which he was carrying illegally considering he was 17 years old at the time of the murders.
Rittenhouse’s acquittal and the timeline of his actions are more than I can explain here. Though, in preparing to write this piece, I listened to
to orient myself with the facts of the original case.
The facts of this case and the trial that followed have been debated and discussed throughout the last two years. Rittenhouse was acquitted on the charges which were brought against him. Rittenhouse’s name has unfortunately resurfaced in social media timelines this past week.
On September 19, 2022, Rittenhouse announced on Twitter that a fundraiser has been organized for him by his friends in the wake of a civil suit which has been filed against Rittenhouse by the family of Anthony Huber, who was murdered by Rittenhouse in August of 2020. Part of the fundraiser’s description reads: “With the prayers, love, and support of countless Patriotic and freedom-loving Americans, Kyle beat the odds, won his freedom, and proved to a nation that justice is possible, even in the face of overwhelming political and societal pressures.”
After Rittenhouse murdered two people and got away with it, conservatives have clung on to him as a symbol of bravery and innocence. This speaks volumes about the values of these individuals. As much as they claim to value human life, that value is lost once that human becomes part of the world or can voice opinions or do things that they do not agree with. It is not human life that they value. It is the power they feel when they can use people like Kyle Rittenhouse as idols and a vessel for them to spread their hatred and violent rhetoric.
What does it say about a group that places this man on a pedestal and absolves him from all responsibility of taking the lives of innocent people? Is there really no one else better they can use to influence others? Or does Kyle Rittenhouse just embody their conservative values the best?
These are the questions I raise when I see others giving him a platform and asserting that he is now the victim. He is not the victim, and he never will be; those who have taken his side will more than likely be on his side forever.
There is not much more I can say about this situation. To me, the facts speak for themselves, but each time I see this name, it gets harder and harder not to question the sanity of people who continue to give this person money and a platform to excuse actions that have left two families with irreparable wounds.